Henry claek sergeant



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. O. SERGEANT.

VALVE FOR ENGINES. No. 402,985. Patented May 7, 1889.

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2. Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. O. SERGEANT.

VALVE FOR ENGINES. No. 402,985. Patented May '7, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

HENRY CLARK sEReEANT, OF NEW YO K, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE INGER- SOLL-SERGEANT RooK DRILL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VALVE l- 'OR ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters- Patent No. 402,985, dated May '7, 1889. Application filed August 10, 1388. Serial No. 282,418. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- 7 Be it known that I, HENRY CLARK SER- .GEANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto- 7 matic Valves for Steam and Air Engines, of

which the following is a description.

My lnvention relates to improvements in valves for reciprocating engines. As herein shown, my improved valve mechanism isapplied to a drilling-engine; but it will be apparent that it is adapted for use in connection with reciprocating engines generally.

The invention comprises a steam (or air) actuated piston,to which the main slide-valve of the engine is attached, said piston being reciprocated within the steam-chest to shift the slide-valve in the necessary manner. In-

stead, however, of being actuated by steam from the main cylinder or controlled by the movement of the engine, a second similar piston is provided, said auxiliary piston also carrying a slide-valve and acting to control the motions of the main-valve piston irrespective of the movements of the engine.

In carrying out my invention the steamchest is formed with a duplex system of ports and passages, one set extending to the main cyhnder 1n the usual .manner, but provided also with auxiliary passages extending to the opposite side of the steam-chest and controlled by the main' valve piston, and an auxiliary set of ports controlled by the auxiliaryvalve piston and provided with a second set of passages likewise crossing to the opposite side of the steam-chest. The steam chest itself is formed with two sets of single-acting cylinders placed side by side and in which the two steam or air actuated pistons are reeiprocated, each moving a slide-valve for opening and closing the sets of ports referred to. A separate exhaust passage, provided with means for varying its area, serves to control the speed of the auxiliary-valve=actuating piston, both valve-pistons being thus rendered wholly independent of the movement of the piston in the main cylinder.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the cylinder, steam formed with two short single-ported cylinders at each end, which are marked D E and D E, respectively. y

F indicates a plate of metal interposed between the steam-chest and cylinder, and in which the auxiliary ports and passages are formed. The plate F will be referred to as the valve-plate.

G and H represent the main ports, extending,respeotively,to the forward and rear end of the main cylinder. port. From the port G anauxiliary passage, g, formed in the valve-plate F, extends around and across the valve-plate, issuing at port g, on the opposite side of the steam chest.

I is the main exhaust- From the port H a similar passage, h,extends across and issues at port h, also on the opposite side of the steam-chest.

J K indicate the auxiliary set of steamports, which, as seen, are located close to and in the same transverse plane as the ports G H, and

comprise supply-ports J K and an exhaustport, L. The port J leads through passage j, which is of less area than the port itself, and issues through port j on the opposite side of the steam-chest. The port K extends by passage is, which similarly issues on the opposite side of the steam-chest by port la.

The various ports and passages just referred to could of course be formed by cores in the main body of the metal of the cylinder A when said cylinder is cast; but for greater accuracy I prefer to form them in the valve-plate F, which can-be readily planed and fitted, and is secured to the side of the Parts of the passages g h are said cylinder. open on one side of the plate F, as are parts of the passages j and k on its opposite side.

These are, however, tightly closed when the plate is in position, the metal of the cylinder A closing those on the lower side of the plate, and the end portions of the steam-chest closing those on the upper surface of the plate.

M is the main -valve actuating piston, formed with cylindric end portions adapted to move under steam-pressure in the cylin ders D D of the steam-chest. The main slide-valve m, which moves upon the ports G H, is shown as being secured to the central portion of the piston M.

N is the auxiliary-valveactuating piston, which moves in cylinders E E, the counterpart of piston M, so that their positions may be changed should one wear faster than the other. The piston N is attached to slidevalve 42, moving upon the auxiliary ports J K.

It will be evident that the form of the valveactuating pistons may be greatly varied, so long as one controls the other and they move independently of the main piston. The location of the said pistons may also be varied, as good results would also be secured were they separated by the entire width of the steamchest and the slide-valves arranged. in the space between them. Other immaterial changes might also be suggested.

The auxiliary exhaust-port L communicates with exhaust-passage Z, which latter is provided, as also may the ports j 76', with a 0011- trolling device such, for example, as the screw bolts 0, having hand wheels 0. By adjusting the appropriate bolt 0 the exhaust from cylinders D D of the main-valve piston, as also the supply, can be throttled to any desired extent, and the speed of movement of the valves regulated, as desired.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the main-valve piston M is at the forward end of its stroke, the auxiliary valve piston N willbe in its rearward position. The cylinder E will then exhaust through port h, the exhaust escaping through passage h and main auxiliary-port I. The piston M will now receive steam in cylinder D'through port J, passage j, and port j, and exhaust through port passage is, its exhaust finding escape through the auxiliary exhaust-port L. Steam (or air) being continuously supplied from the steam-chest will now pass through main port G, auxiliary passage g, and through port 9 to cylinder driving the auxiliary piston into its opposite position and opening auxiliary port K, through which steam or air will then pass by passage 7.: and port It and through the main piston M, thus completing a re versal of their positions and causing them subsequently to exhaust through the opposite set of ports and passages. These movements will continue alternately so long as steam or compressed air is supplied, and the speed at which the valve-actuating pistons move is readily controlled by means of the throttle or regulator O, by which the area of the exhaust passage j is increased or diminished.

It will be understood that while, for purposes of illustration, I have described my improvemen ts specifically I do not limit myself to the constructions or precise forms shown, since they may be modified in many respects without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

l-Iaving described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a reciprocating engine, means for opening and closing the supply-ports thereof, comprising a pair of valve-actuating pistons driven by the motive fluid independent of the movement of the main piston, substantially as described.

2. In a reciprocating engine, the combination, with the main supply ports and cylinder, of two valves arranged to move in alternation and to control the necessary supply ports and passages to produce said alternating motion independent of the movement of the main piston, substantially as described.

3. In a reciprocating engine, valve-operating mechanism therefor, consisting of a pair of reciprocating pistons, one of which is con nected to and moves the main valve of the engine, the other operating a similar valve controlling the movements of the valve-controlling pistons independent of the move ment of the main piston, subtantially as described.

4. In a reciprocating engine, the combination, with the main supply-valve thereof, of a steam or air actuated piston for reciprocatingthe same, a second similar valve, and ports and passages in the steam-chest for imparting alternating reciprocating movement to the valve-controlling pistons independently of the movement of the main piston, substantially as described.

5. A reciprocating engine having a steam or air actuated piston arranged to open and close the main supply and exhaust ports independently of the movement of the main piston, an auxiliary piston and valve-controlling ports and passages for actuating the main-valve piston, and a contractible passage or passages for regulating the speed of the main-valve piston, substantially as described.

6. In a reciprocating engine, the combination of pistons M N, main valve an, attached to piston M, and an auxiliary valve attached to piston N, main supply-ports, and an auxiliary set of ports controlled by the piston N, valve -passages leading from said ports to actuate the piston M, and passages leading from the main ports to give motion to the piston, substantially as described.

'7. In a reciprocating engine, the combination of pistons M N, main valve m, attached to piston M, and an auxiliary valve attached to piston N, main supply-ports, and an auxiliary set of ports controlled by the piston N, valvepassages leading from said ports to actuate the piston M, passages leading from mit the free passage of steam or air to the the main ports to give motion to the piston ports, substantially as described. [0 N, and a contractible exhai1st-passage,Q,sub- In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig stantially as described. nature in presence of two witnesses.

5 8. The valve-actuatingpistons M N, in COIII- HENRY CLARK SERGEANT.

bination with the steam-chest J, having op- Witnesses: positely-located cylinders to receive the pis- W. B. W. BUNGEIRS,

tons, and an enlarged central portion to per- C. H. SERGEANT. 

